Results for "piano"

Jeffrey Morgan

Born: March 20, 1954

Jeffrey Morgan was born in the U.S.A. in 1954. He started playing violin when he was 10 and later integrated into a youth orchestra. At 19 he was inspired by The Art Ensemble of Chicago and Sun Ra and picked up the saxophone, trumpet, clarinet and started playing the piano as well. During his university studies he organized a Freeform Music Workshop in 1975. A year later he attended the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY, and studied under Karl Berger, Oliver Lake and participated in workshops with Don Cherry. In 1976 he created his first compositional work for music and dance – Distress Mistress, and performed his first ensemble work, The Delirium Dimension. He also met saxophone player Bert Wilson and began a very productive collaborative musical friendship. In 1977 he created his first multi-media interdisciplinary work – Galactic Visions, a composition for music, dance, slide projectors, costumes, and light design. Morgan graduated from The Evergreen State College in 1977 with a Bachelor of the Arts degree: Studies were focused on the performing arts, e.g., music and experimental theater; and Eastern philosophy and Native American culture. In 1983 he released his first documented solo and ensemble works, "Quasar Mach", on LP. In 1984, along with Paul Hoskin, he co-founded the New Art Orchestra in Seattle, Washington. In 1987, Morgan moved to Birmingham, Alabama and worked with dancers Mary Horn and Susan Hefner; he also started an ongoing collaboration with LaDonna Smith. In 1988 he made his first pilgrimage to Europe in search of greener pastures and has since played with dozens of notable improvisors including Alan Silva, Keith Rowe, Peter Kowald, Paul Lytton and Xu Feng Xia just to name a few. From 1991 to 1996 he organized the Drang in Klang festival for experimental and improvised music, and in 1994 he established another open-door workshop for Conceptual Composition and Improvisation in Cologne, which led to invitations to lead other workshops in Bielefeld, Hamburg, Lisbon, Leeds and Wuppertal. He currently resides in Cologne, Germany.

Cathy DeWitt

Born: October 4

Cathy DeWitt was destined to be a musician, and playing jazz is in her blood. Before she was born her father Bruce led his own band in New Orleans, regularly opening for Louis Armstrong at Pete Fountain's place. At a very early age music filled her house, from her father's Dixieland trumpet and stride piano to the Rachmaninoff and Chopin pieces her brother Peter, a prodigy pianist, rehearsed every day on the grand piano in the living room. As the family gathered to watch the television variety shows of the 60s, she heard all the famous singers interpreting the great songbook of jazz and show tunes, and she never forgot the lyrics to many of those songs. After honing her harmonic skills as a member of the University of Florida Choir and Willis Bodine's Chamber Singers, Cathy met and began performing with jazz guitarist Charlie Bush

Endemic Ensemble

Active since: 2010

In 2010, Seattle bassist Steve Messick started a new jazz project with the goals of writing forms and melodies in the styles of post-bop and big band, but also pulling inspiration from neoclassical works. This project became the Endemic Ensemble, and the jazz quintet debuted in the spring of 2010 with Messick on double bass, Travis Ranney on tenor and soprano saxophones, Matso Limtiaco on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet, David Franklin on piano, and Ken French on drums.

In 2012, the Endemic Ensemble released their first full-length album, Lunar, which made Lucid Culture's “The 20 Best Jazz Albums of 2012.” Drummer Christian Krehbiel joined the band in 2014, and in 2016 the Endemic Ensemble released their second full-length album, Tangled.

Nicki and Patrick Adams

Brothers Nicki and Patrick Adams have a natural bond that most musicians can never approximate with their peers. Their common upbringing and interests have also given them the idea to blend the aural tradition of jazz with the more written one of classical, with a unique approach that makes their efforts seem buoyant and natural on their new recording, Lynx. // Their debut recording as a duo, Lynx, takes its name from an Arizona lake that the brothers frequented during their boyhood years, solidifying bonds both fraternal and musical. The project evolved after Nicki began to reinvestigate classical pieces that he had played or listened to before he devoted his attention full time to jazz

Oliver Mayman

Born: November 20, 2001

From Ann Arbor, MI, and now based in Philadelphia, Oliver Mayman is a vibraphonist, composer, and educator. Beginning on the drums and piano, the vibraphone was an apt discovery as a teenager – the instrument essentially fusing the mechanics of drumming with the harmonic capabilities of the piano. He has since become a distinguished voice on the instrument, reimagining its role in music through an inventive technical approach and a discerning creative ear.

He has performed as a bandleader across the Midwest and East Coast at storied venues like Cliff Bell’s, the Blue LLama, and Chris’ Jazz Cafe, and has also been featured in several larger, iconic events like the Detroit Jazz Festival and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Additionally a sought-after accompanist and sideman, he has performed in countless other venues with various groups, and aims to play the vibraphone as a suitable alternative to the piano, capable of fully assuming a rhythmically and harmonically supportive role in any setting.

Marianne Trudel

Marianne Trudel is a multi-talented pianist, composer, improvisor, and arranger. A generous and engaging artist, a veritable powerhouse in Quebec and Canada’s instrumental music scene, Marianne Trudel has presented multiple artistic projects that not only bring her considerable skills to the fore but also her keen sense of creativity. At once energetic and passionate, her music cross-cuts a wide swath of musical interests. Her moving, spellbinding music is not easily labelled, one of its many strengths. At once sophisticated and catchy, authentic and unique

As a performer, she pursues an active career in a variety of settings ranging from solo performance to: duets (MTrudel+ John Hollenbeck, MTrudel + Karen Young), trios (Trifolia), quintet (Marianne Trudel 4 + Ingrid Jensen), septet, and large ensembles. She has presented her music in various countries: Canada, United States, Mexico, France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Scotland, Italy, Hungary, Lituania, and China.

Eddie Moore

Born: October 9, 1985

Jazz runs deep in pianist and bandleader Eddie Moore's veins. Raised in Houston Texas, he began his musical journey at Texas Southern University where he later earned a Bachelors in Arts and immersed himself in the Houston music scene. As a lifelong musician traversing a number of bands and styles he relocated to Kansas City to study under Bobby Watson at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he received a M.A in Jazz Studies. After forming Jazz/Fusion group Eddie Moore & The Outer Circle in 2012, diversity and inclusiveness have become to define Moore as an artist. His debut album,"The Freedom of Expression", was given 3.5 stars from Downbeat jazz magazine who has stated "Moore's compositions exude a sophisticated soulful elegance that create a tastefully fulfilling venture into a range of dynamic pieces, with the musicianship to match.” Moore’s third album as a leader "Kings & Queens" incorporates elements of soul, r&b, rock and hip-hop into his take on contemporary jazz

Benjamin Thiebault

French pianist and composer Benjamin Thiebault has performed on the stages of renowned jazz clubs and on several international recordings and tours. His first album “Emergence” was released in 2020 and can be found on all streaming platforms.

Allen C. Paul

Born: June 1, 1974

Allen C. Paul, pianist, educator and author, began learning the piano at the age of 3, taught by his mother, an elementary music teacher. A graduate of the University of Miami School of Music in Jazz Piano, he has since performed both locally and internationally, working closely with myriad top-tier artists as a musical director and accompanist. He has worked with and appeared on stage with artists such as Miki Howard, Betty Wright, Raheem Devaughn, Jaguar Wright, Mike Phillips, Rhonda Thomas, Anthony David, Algebra Blessett, Chantae Cann and many others. He also worked in theater alongside award winning singer and actor Chestor Gregory in his hit musical “The Eve of Jackie” in 2017

Mike LeDonne

Born: October 26, 1956

Pianist Mike LeDonne started playing piano at the age of 5 and was raised in his parent’s music store. By the age of 10 his father, a jazz guitarist, began booking him on gigs. He is now an internationally renowned pianist and organist with the unique experience of having played with a wide spectrum of jazz masters from Benny Goodman to Milt Jackson and Sonny Rollins. He has won praise not only from critics but from master musicians: Oscar Peterson picked him as one of his favorite pianists of today. At age 21, Mike graduated from New England Conservatory in 1979 and moved to New York City with the Widespread Jazz Orchestra